Raw sugar futures closed with small losses Tuesday on speculative sales, but trade buying tied to talk of possible consumer purchases blunted the losses in the market, analysts said. The New York Board of Trade's May raw sugar contract eased 0.01 cent to finish at 8.75 cents a lb, in a band from 8.68 to 8.85 cents. It was the lowest level for sugar since trading in late February near 8.40 cents.
July fell 0.04 to 8.94 cents. The rest retreated 0.01 to 0.07 cent.